The Imitation of Christ

In Three Books

by Thomas À. Kempis

Excerpt

Vve have sometimes heard the strenuous argumen tation of the Author of the following Treatise in behalf of holiness, excepted against, on the ground that it did not recognize sufficiently the doctrine of justification by faith. There is, in many instances, an over-sensitive alarm on this topic, which makes the writer fearful of recommending virtue, and the private disciple as fearful of embarking on the career of it — a sort of jealousy lest the honours and import ance of Christ's righteousness should be invaded, by any importance being given to the personal righte ousness of the believer: as if the one could not be maintained as the alone valid plea on which the sin ner could lay claim to an inheritance in heaven, and at the same time the other be urged as his indispen sable preparation for its exercises and its joys.